Washing-machine



R. J. CLARK J WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, I919.

Patented July 27, 1920.

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R .I. CLARK,'J II. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1919.

Patented July 27, 1920.

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INVENTOR R EED J. CLHRK, JR.

ATTORNEY oarren sures A PATENT OFFICE.

REED J. CLARK, JR., 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1920.

Application filed September 29. 1919. Serial No. 327.274.

will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates in general to that type of washin United States atent No. 1,285,943, and

particularly to new and useful improvements in the construction of such washing mach1nes,--one object of the invention being to provide a cage or crate for the receptacle portion of the machine whereby the strains incident to the support and rotation of the receptacle on trunnions is taken up by the cage, thus relieving the receptacle of undue strains which might cause it to bend or leak.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a washing machine of the character described which is light and yet durable and leakproo'f in construction, to provide a machine which is quick and thorough in its action and will enable large quantities of soiled clothes to be washed in a short period of time; for this purpose to provide a novel construction of annular raceways within the receptacle to receive a weighted ball which runs over the clothes and thoroughly squeezes the dirt out of them and forces water through them; to obtain a weighted ball embodying anovel construction whereby it can be readily disassembled and easily removed from the machine; and to secure other results and advantages as may be brought out in the following description.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a washing machine constructed in accordance with my invention. p

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, looking at the lefthand side as viewed from Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one half of the weighted ball casing with the concrete ball in position.

machine set forth in my Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the ball on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a similar'view on the line 66 of Fig. 4:.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the joint between the sections of the receptacle or casing, showing one of the clamps in side elevation. i

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the cage and one of the trunnions.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings b the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, the numerals 1 and 2 designate the two complemental halves of the hollow outer casing A of the washing machine, said casing. having the general shape of a flattened sphere so that a cross section taken in one direction is circular, as indicated by Fi 2, while a cross section taken at right angl s thereof is substantially elliptical, as indicated by Fig. 3. The lower half 1 of the casing A'is larger than the upper half and is hollow and partially filled with hot soapy water into which the clothes to be washed are placed preparatory to placing the upper section 2 of the casing in position. The casing A is preferably formed of thin sheet metal so as to be light in construction, and to facilitate in )the stamping or pressing of the metal to produce the peculiar shape of the casing each half is formed in two complemental sections. The .upper half 2 is constructed of two similarly formed sections 3 and 4 which are provided on their circumferential edges with upstanding flanges 5 and 6, said flanges being joined transversely of the axis of the machine, preferably by electrically welding them. These flanges are received between two arcuate fiat ring sections 7 which are electrically welded to the outsides of the flanges 3 and 4. The lower section 1 of the casin A is constructed in a similar manner of two complemental sections 8 and 9 welded together and between a pair of ring sections 10. This sectional construction provides for easy and quick pressing and cutting of the casing halves, and permits one section 3 or 4 and the corresponding section 8 or 9 being pressed in a specially cut in one operation. The arcuate ring secconstructed die from one sheet of metal and thereof engaging and one of said flanges carrying a packing ring 13 which engages a roove 14 in the flange of the other re.-

in orcing ring 11. The edges of the casinghalves are received between the vertical flanges 15 and outer rings or bands 16, the said flanges, casing and bands being preferably electrically welded together to insure a water-tight connection. Positioning pins 12 project from one of the flanges 12 and pass loosely through openings. in the other flange, said pinsserving to hold the casing sections in proper relative position preparatory to tightening the clamps. The flange 12 of the lower casing section 1 is provided with a series of clamping hooks 17 which are adapted to extend around the flange 12 of the upper casing section, said clamping hooks being pivotally connected at 18 to levers 19 which are in turn pivotally connected at 20 to the flange 12 of the lower section 1. These operating levers 19 have a cam action in connection with the clamping hooks 17 and draw the same forcibly into operative position when the levers are swung downwardly against the sides of the casing, although when the levers are swung upwardly the clamping hooks are released. By means of these clamping hooks the two casing sections can be securely locked together and a water-tight joint obtained so that the casing A can be turned about its axis without danger of leakage.

The casing A is mounted within a supporting and protecting cage which is preferably formed of vstrap metal. A plurality of straps 21 extend over the to of the upper half 2 of the casing, the en s of said straps being riveted at 22 to the band 16 and the intermediate portions thereof being riveted as at 23 to the arcuate ring sections 7. Similarly a plurality of straps 24 extend around the outside of the lower half 1 of the casing, the ends thereof being riveted, as at 25,1:0 the corresponding band 16 and the intermediate portions being riveted, as at 26, to the arcuate ring sections 10. A strap 27 extends diametrically of the lower half 1 of the casing at right angles to the straps 24, said strap being riv eted as at 28 to each of the straps 24 and at 29 to the ring sections 10. T'runnion plates 30 are boltedto the straps 24 and 27 at'the opposite flat sides of the casing half 1 by means of bolts 31, said plates carrying trunnions 32 which are axially arranged with respect to the casing.- These trunnions are journaled in upright stand ards 33 of a supporting frame B so that the casing is rotatable upon the trunnions about its axis. For the purpose of rotating the casingvA by power, a sprocket wheel 34 is shown as bolted to one of the trunnion plates by the bolts 31, a drive chain 35 passing around said sprocket wheel and to a suitable reversible motor 36. If desired, the casing can be manually rotated by means of the operating lever 37 mounted on a countershaft 38 journaled in the frame B at the side of the machineopposite the motor, said lever carrying a spring influenced reversible pawl 39 which is adapted to engage a ratchet 39 fixed on said countershaft. The shaft 38 also carries a gear 40 which is adapted to mesh with a gear wheel 41 bolted to the other trunnion plate and when these two gears mesh the casing can be rotated by oscillation of the lever 37. The shaft 38 is slidable in the frame A so that the gear 40 can be disengaged from the gear 41 when the casing is being driven from the motor 36.

The interior of the outer casing A is provided with an annular raceway which is concentric with the axis upon which the easing is pivoted, said raceway being reinforced by the ring sections 7 and 10 outside the casing. This raceway is substantially semicircular in cross section, as indicated by Fig. 3, and is provided with transverse corrugations 42 upon which. the clothes are rubbed by a rolling weight C which is loosely mounted wlthin the casing and travels around the annular raceway when the casing is rotated about its axis. As this weight rolls over the clothes, the rolling being brought about by the action of gravity as the casing is'revolved, the clothes are effectively rubbed against the corrugated walls of the annular raceway and at the same time subjected to a pressure which tends to force or pump the soapy water through the fabric and remove the dirt therefrom. ,The rolling weight C in its spe- ClfiC construction includes a heavy center 43 which is preferably formed of concrete or some plastic material, and a foraminous shell 44 which completely houses the concrete bod and is spaced therefrom, thereby provi ing a chamber E between the concrete body and the foraminous shell into which the water squeezed or pressed from the clothes directly under the weight can enter, thereby producing a most effective pumping action or circulation of the water through the fabric and causing the fabric to be cleansed without-any injurious twistng or rubbing. The foraminous shell-l4 is preferably covered by a soft protective layer 45 of rubber or like material, said rubber having a roughened or ribbed outer surface, andbeing provided with perforations which correspond to and register with the perforations of the foraminous shell. Tubular rivets 46 pass through these corresponding perforations and serve to secure the protective rubber layer 45 to the shell, there by providing for securing the rubber layer in sition without interfering with the passages between the chamber E and the exterior of the rolling weight. The shell 44 is preferably formed in semi-spherical sections which are assembled upon the concrete weight 43 from opposite sides thereof, the meeting edges of the sections of the shell overlapping each other'at 47. The meeting edges of the shell 44 are shown as reinforced by angle-bar rings 48, one flange of each of said rings being riveted to the interior of the shell halves and the edges thereof abutting when the shell halves are put together, as shown by Fig. 5, while the other flanges are disposed at right angles to the said first mentioned flanges and project into the ball. A plurality of spring catches 49 are'secured to one of the angle-bars and are provided with enlarged heads 50 adapted to engage openings. 51 extendingl through the other angle-bar ring and she When the shell halves are assembled the heads 50 of the latches snap into the openings 51 and hold the shell halves securely together, and when it is desired to separate the shell halves the latches can be pushed out of the openings 51 by a nail or other suitable instrument.

The concrete ball is supported upon these reinforcing rings 48, and is shown as provided with a pair of diametrically arranged rods 52 which cross each other at right angles so as to extend from the ball at points spaced 90 apart on the periphery of: the. ball but in the same diametric plane.

The projecting ends of these rods 52 are formed with T-shaped heads 53 disposed in planes at right angles to the plane of the rods, said heads having reduced portions 54 adapted to fit into corresponding openings 55 in each of the angle-bar rings 48. In assembling the ball C one half of the shell is turned with its open side u and the concrete weight is lowered into this shell half so that the reduced portions 54 of the T-heads slip into the corresponding openings 55 in the reinforcing angle bar-ring 48. The other half of the shell is then placed over the concrete weight and the openings 55 in its reinforcing ring 48 slipped over the upstanding reduced portions 54 of the T-heads on the rods carried by the concrete weight. The concrete weight is thus supported by and between the reinforcing rings 48 and the shell of the ball 0 is reinforced by these rings 48 and relieved will be noted that the T-heads 53 also serve as handles for carrying the weight 43. A handle 57 may also be provided for lifting the upper half 2 of the casing A, said handle being normally held against swinging as the casing rotates by a suitable spring latch 58. y

In many instances it is desirable to have a clothes wringer attached directly to the washinfi machine, andfor this purpose the frame may be formed with an extension and upright standard 59 to receive a wringer 60 shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In the operation of the washing machine the casing A is rotated to bring the lower section 1 thereof into an upright position. The upper casing section 2 is then removed and the desired quantity of hot soapy water poured into the lower casing section. The clothes to be washed are then inserted in the machine and the ball C lowered into position on top of the clothes. -Any large fabric pieces, such as sheets, which might have a tendency to wind themselves around the weighted ball C may be loosely tied into a bundle preparatory to inserting them into the machine. The upper casing section 2 is next tightly clamped in position, after which it is merely necessary to rotate the casing in order to subject the clothes to the action of the rolling weight C and thoroughly cleanse the same. 'The action of gravity causes the weight C to travel around the annular raceway of the casing as the casing is revolved, and the clothes are thereby rubbed between the corrugated walls 42 of the raceway and the rough orribbed rubber covering of the weight. At the same time the clothes are subjected to a squeezing action as the weight rolls over the same, said squeezing action being facilitated by the; foraminous shell which surrounds the concrete weight 43 and is spaced therefrom, the water which is squeezed from the fabric tending to pass through the perforations of the foraminous shell and to enter the chamber E which is provided between the foraminous shell and the concrete Wei ht. The only surfaces which are direct y engaged by the clothes are the corrugated interior walls of the outer casing A and the rubber covering of the rolling weight C, and it will be obvious that even delicate fabrics can be thoroughly washed without danger of injury, since the rubbing and squeezing action of the weight is not violent, although very effective.

It will thus be seen that a light yet strong and durable washing machine is provided, the cage surrounding the casing A taking all strains and weight of the casing and ball C. Also the ring sections 7 and 10 reinforce the casing to support the ball C, and the ball shell is itself reinforced to support the concrete weight. I Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A washing machine including a hollow water-tight casing, a plurality of metal straps extending around said casing in a plurality of planes and connected. together to form a frame, trunnions fixed to said straps at an axis of the frame, and bearings for supporting said trunnions to adapt the frame to rotate.

.2. The combination with a washing machine, including a hollow water-tight casing mounted to rotate about an axis and having an interior annular raceway concentric with the axis, of a ball mounted to roll in said raceway, said ball comprising a'spherical hollow shell formed in two complemental semi-spherical sections, a reinforcing ring fixed on the interior of each of said shell sections at the edge of the open sides therethe plane of said reinforcing rings andadapted to engage the openings in both of the said reinforcing rin 's. v

In testimony whereo I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

REED J. CLARK, JR. Witnesses! ELLA M. CLARK, MABEL I. LEONARD. 

